Demons by K.F. Breene (Darkness #4)

Demons by K.F. Breene

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Bottom Line: The plot dragged out a bit too much with no real resolution. This was a tough one for me to get in to.

Darkness Series
1.  Into the Darkness
2.  Braving the Elements
3.  On a Razor's Edge
4.  Demons
5. The Council (Oct 30, 2014)

Synopsis (Goodreads):

It’s been a long road, but Sasha has finally claimed her role as the least knowledge mage in history. She’s also acquired a new, incredibly grumpy bodyguard, and a spunky new BFF. With her team by her side, she learns the ropes of this new profession. 

Her experience level is about to be fast-tracked, however. 

On a routine trip to check out a perimeter breach, she encounters a hideous demon called by an experienced magic worker. It is this terrifying discovery that unlocks a deeper problem: Stefan’s troubled past and the reason he gravely mistrusts the Mata. 

While Sasha struggles to fight the physical demons, Stefan struggles to fight the demons of his past. If he fails, his future in Sasha will be lost.

My Thoughts:

After being very pleasantly surprised by the first few books in this series, I was shocked how tough it was for me to get through this novella. I honestly don't know what happened, but I had to push myself to stay interested in this story. The plot begins with a demon summoned by some mysterious, powerful mage. The demon, conveniently, provides a mystery for Sasha to solve with her awesome black magic powers as well as a way for her to prove her abilities to lead her people. Additionally, this demon brings up Stefan's inner demons (ooo double meaning), and we get to see Sasha help our sensitive stud through some tough times. I know, I sound bitter. Honestly, I usually eat this kind of sensitive-tough-guy stuff up, but it was just too forced in this story.  In my opinion, even the sex was forced...there was hardly even a purpose for it. And when I'm clamoring for a purpose for some naughty scenes in a romance, you know there's a problem.

Now I still enjoyed the magic aspects of this story, and the final battle was exciting enough, but the one thing that still eats at me is that there was no POINT to the demon. Even after we discover who summoned the demon (and believe me, it was no real shocker), it seemed like it was just summoned because the mage wanted to see if it could be done. Congrats! You can summon a demon. Story over.

Find it on: Amazon | Goodreads | K.F. Breene

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison (The Hollows #1)

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison 

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Bottom Line: This story is slowwww to develop.  On it's own, it wasn't great for me, but I'll give this series a second chance.

The Hollows
1.  Dead Witch Walking
2.  The Good, the Bad, and the Undead
3.  Every Witch Way but Dead
4.  A Fistful of Charms
5.  For a Few Demons More
6.  Outlaw Demon Wails
7.  White Witch, Black Curse
8.  Black Magic Sanction
9.  Pale Demon
10.  A Perfect Blood
11.  Ever After
12.  The Undead Pool
13.  The Witch With No Name (September 9, 2014)

Synopsis (Amazon):

All the creatures of the night gather in "the Hollows" of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party ... and to feed.

Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining -- and it’s Rachel Morgan's job to keep that world civilized.

A bounty hunter and witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she'll bring 'em back alive, dead ... or undead.

My Thoughts:

I started reading this book after I saw The Undead Pool on display at the book store.  I figured "wow, a book with a fun cover on the main display?  Must be an extraordinary series!"  Yeah, I didn't get that from this first book.  This book is supposed to be about a badass witch kicking some supernatural booty.  It seemed more like a mediocre witch getting herself into situations she couldn't get out of...for the first 300 pages.

Rachel Morgan is a "good" witch who quits her job at Inderland Security...basically she's a supernatural bounty hunter.  Problem is, people don't quit the I.S. and get away with it.  She immediately is put under a death threat, and has to fight to survive with only the help of her horny vampire roommate, Ivy, and her pixy friend, Jenks.  Now I liked Jenks in this book.  I think of him as the comic relief.  Ivy, I suppose, would be the drama side of the book, since she's in a constant struggle not to attack her roommate.  In this book, we meet Trent Kalamack: an attractive, rich supernatural of some unknown sort who has a HUGE mean streak.  Ok, this guy is borderline evil...but I am really looking forward to seeing how he interacts with Rachel in the rest of the books.  The scenes with Rachel and Trent were among the only parts I enjoyed in this book.  As for romance?  There is none...I was disappointed, but I suppose the book never really promised me romance, so I can't be too upset.  Perhaps something will develop in a later book?  Please?

Alright, so why didn't I enjoy this book?  It took a good three quarters of this book to get to something exciting.  Rachel is weak...I know not every heroine has to be a warrior princess, but I really wish Rachel had some sort of useful power.  Half the book was her doing something incredibly stupid, then sitting there thinking about it until someone saved her.

Will I continue on with the series?  Yes, I will give the second book a shot, at least.  The Hollows series has 12 books right now.  I feel like in order to support a series of that magnitude, a lot needs to be introduced in the first book.  So I'm going to continue on in hopes that the next book will contain a few more exciting magical adventures...and a bit less sitting around getting to know each other.

Find it on: Amazon | Goodreads | Kim Harrison